Swimming and sun bathing trunks



Nov. 1, 1932.

T. R. UPLAND SWIMMING AND SUN BATHING TRUNKS Filed Jan. 18, 1932 M? m Mmm wm fi d M 6 z odme Patented Nov. 1, 1932 UNITED STATES THEODORE It.UPLAND, OF BURLINGAME,

PATENT OFFICE CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO GANTNER &

MATTERN COMPANY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A GORIORATION 0F CALI-FORNIA SWIMMING AND SUN IBATHING- TRUN'KS Application filed January 18,1932. Serial No. 587,221.

My invention relates to garments adapted especially for use in swimmingand other athletic exercises, and for sun bathing.

These uses naturally entail the minimum reduction of the proportions ofthe garment and its attachments, consistent with freedom of action andproper exposure; and to this end the common type of garment for suchpurposes is a pair of trunks characterized, as commonly defined andunderstood, as extending from the waist line to a short distance overthe thighs.

It is to this type of garment that my invention relates, and its objectis to provide, in'connection therewith, protective and becoming coveringfor the renal and umbilical regions of the wearer without materiallyaffecting the conventional, relatively diminutive proportions of atrunk-like garment.

To this end my invention conslsts, briefly stated, in the novelextension member, the nature of which will hereinafter fully appear,with which the upper edge or waist line of the normal trunk is provided.

In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated my improved garment inits preferred form, though it is to be understood that changes may bemade therein without departing from the spirit of the invention asdefined in the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the garment, a ortion ofthe belt being broken away to in icate in dotted lines the drawstringand its hem and also the seam 5 connecting the extension member 3 withwaist line of the trunk proper.

Fig. 2 is a 'fragmental section, enlarged, on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation, broken, of the upper portion of the garment.

The main body of the arment is a pair of trunks comprising the hipportion 1 and abbreviated leg portions 2, constituting the usualclose-fitting, short breeches which, in its common form extends from thewaist part way down the thighs. It may be fashioned and constructed 1nany way suitable for trunk-like garments, and may be made of anysuitable material, knitted goods preferably. The improved garmentherein, however, does not terminate in the waist line, as do ordinarytrunks, but is upwardly extended and fashioned to fit closely about thewearers body above the hips to a line slightly above the renal andumbilical regions. This extension, designated by 3 may be integral withthe main body, or it may be a single piece, but by preference it is asparatemember composed of complemental sections united together at thesides as by the seams 4 to form an annular encircling band, which issecured to the upper edge of the latter along the seam 5. v

The extension member or band 3 is an elastic knit web, the elastic phaseof which is circumferential, and in its best form it is furthercharacterized by being plurally folded lengthwise, in practise foldeddouble, its lower edges being involved in the seam 5, so that its foldis uppermost and thereby durable and sightly. Thus the fashioning to afit and the doubling of the knit web 3 with its elastic phasecircumferential yield in full measure the essential objects of theimprove -ment, to wit, a protective covering of the kidthat of theentire garment as well.

However for additional assurance in this last respect, namely thepositive support of the garment, I have added a draw string 6 seated ina hem 7 seamed in the upper edge of the trunk proper; and have alsoprovided a belt 8 fitted in exterior loops 9, the ends of which beingsecured to the hip portion 1 and the extension portion 3, respectively,give additional security to the uniting seam 5 of said portions, and bytheir position adapt said belt to neatly cover said seam and the hem 7.

From the foregoing it will be seen that as the extension member 3 isrelatively narrow being required only to cover the kidney and portionnavel regions of the wearer, of a complete body member, it still givesthe necessary freedom of action in athletic exercise such as swimming,and desirable exposure in sun-bathing, at the same time givingprotective warmth and becoming exposure, together with a close and snugfit, in all of which desirable effects its novel construction as aknitted web, folded and; circumferentially strongly elastic is of primeimportance.

I claim:

. 1. A bathing garment consisting of a trunk having abbreviated legmembers, the upper edge of said trunk portion being folded upon itselfwith the fold constituting the waist line of the garment, a separatebody portion extending above the waist line to cover the umbilical andrenal portions of the body of the wearer, said body portion being formedof a double thickness of elastic selfsupporting material folded uponitself and havlng its free edges lowermost and secured together and tothe folded'upper edge of said trunk portion, and a plurality ,ofexteriorly arran ed spaced belt enclosing loops secured to sai garmentat the waist line, said loops being adapted to receive a belt forsupporting the garment on thebody of the wearer and to cover thedivision line between said trunk and body ortions.

2. l bathing garment having an abbreviated trunk portion with its upperedge terminating at the waist line, and attached thereto a separate bodyportion extending above the waist line to cover the umbilical and renalportions and sides of the body of the wearer, said body portion beingformed of a double thickness of elastic self-supporting material foldedupon itself and having its free edges secured together and to the upperedge of said trunk portion and snugly engagilglg the body of the wearerabove the waist around the waist line.

3. A bathing arment having an abbreviated trunk portlon with its upperedge terminating at the waist line, and a body portion extending abovethe waist line to cover the umbilical and renal portions of the body ofthe wearer, said .body portions being formed of adouble thickness ofelastic selfsupporting material folded uponitself and snugly engagingthe body of the wearer above the waist line, and belt engaging meansarranged around the waist line.

1 In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this s ecification.

. T EODORE R. UPLAND.

to the exclusion and belt engaging means arranged

